October 6, 2002 – Reno, Nevada – Sixty-year-old Doug Williamson rode Doc At
Night, owned by Sandie Braden of Terrebonne, Oregon to win the NRCHA World
Championship Snaffle Bit Futurity. Williamson had marked a 217.5 in the herd
work and a 220 in the rein work. As is always the case, the title race came
down to the final leg of the cow horse triathlon.
Doug drew up sixth in the cow work, and put together a
run that had the Reno Livestock Event Center near-capacity crowd exploding
with applause. When the score was announced – a 227 – it pushed him to an
insurmountable composite score of 664.50 points and earned him the $100,000
first place check.
Williamson, of Bakersfield, California, won the Futurity
exactly ten years ago – on Mr San Olen, the sire of Doc At Night. Winning
his second title – on a horse he raised, made the victory even more sweet.
"To win it on a baby of the stud I won it on the first time – it's
wonderful!"
Doc At Night is out of Docs Hickory Nut and the flashy
dark stallion will likely be spending a good part of his future time in the
cutting pen. "I think that's the direction we'll go," Williamson commented,
then added. "But then he's such a good reiner, I'd like to do that too!
We'll just have to decide."
Williamson is respected by his peers as a "trainer's
trainer" and he's equally well known for his ability to overcome adversity.
He's a 14-year cancer survivor. In 2001, he competed at the futurity with
broken ribs and a punctured lung. This year, he competed with a broken foot.
Most of his fans and friends feel that his ability to win in the arena and
in life has a lot to do with his outlook – focusing on the good, and seeing
the positive.
"I'm so lucky. I've had good horses in my life. This
one's as good as any of them!"
Williamson, who is also an AQHA World Champion, was
thrilled with the win. "To me, this is the most prestigious event in the
world. To do all three events at one time on a 3-year-old – it's the
ultimate!"
The Reserve Championship went to two-time Futurity
Champion, Bob Avila of Temecula, California on Spark Master, owned by Alan
and Kay Needle. Spark Master, by Shining Spark and out of Kings Masterpiece,
had a composite score of 660, and earned $70,000.
Another Shining Spark son, Shiners Diamond Sun, ridden
by Robbie Boyce and owned by Carol Rose of Gainesville, Texas, rounded out
the top three, with a composite score of 656, good for a $50,000 payday.
Finals day at the Snaffle Bit Futurity was punctuated by
record attendance, and a total payoff exceeding $850,000, as well as a
special proclamation from the Mayor of Reno, proclaiming October 6 as
Snaffle Bit Futurity Day in Reno.
There was also a special announcement presenting the
extension of the National Reined Cow Horse Association's contract with the
Reno Livestock Events Center – insuring that the NRCHA World Championship
Snaffle Bit Futurity will be held in Reno through 2008.
